Drag Racing Story of the Day!

HEBRON, Ohio -- Kenny Bernstein earned his third No. 1 Top Fuel
qualifying position of the season and the 64th of his career Saturday at
the 38th annual Pontiac Excitement Nationals at National Trail Raceway.

Whit Bazemore, Jim Yates, and Matt Hines also were the top qualifiers
of their respective categories at the $2 million race, the 11th of 23
events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

Bernstein's Budweiser King dragster blasted down the quarter-mile track
in 4.586 seconds at 323.81 mph to lead all competitors into eliminations.

"(Our team) was pretty consistent out there and that's what you
have to be if you're going to win," said Bernstein, the defending
NHRA POWERade champion. "It was really cool today but the sun might
come out tomorrow and then everyone will be basically starting over.
Luckily we have experience and the knowledge to use in that case."

Bernstein entered the event 203 points behind rival Larry Dixon and the
Miller Lite dragster. Bernstein will meet No. 16 qualifier John Smith in
the first round of eliminations. Dixon secured the No. 6 spot in the
qualifying order and will meet Scott Weis.

"I sure hope (Dixon) goes out first round, and I'm sure he's
hoping the same for me," said the 56-year-old Bernstein. "Those
guys have been awfully good out there all season and been dominant. I'm
sure the Budweiser folks are tired of reading about that blue car winning.
We can't worry about how they're going to do in eliminations because all
we can do is take care of ourselves. We have no control over what happens
to Dixon. You can only have control over your own destiny."

Bazemore scored his 20th career top spot in Funny Car as he established
a track record for time and speed when he powered his Matco Tools Pontiac
Firebird to a run of 4.798 at 320.36 to lead the 16-car field.

"It's really important for us to go rounds on Sunday," said
Bazemore, currently fifth in the standings. "On one hand we have had
a great season already winning twice and being the No. 1 qualifier twice.
On the other hand, we've been disappointed with all the first round
losses (five). I'm starting to think it's better to just consistently make
it to the semifinals and not win than win three or four times and be
knocked out in the first round a lot."

At the end of last season Bazemore made a strong run for the NHRA
championship, qualifying No. 1 at nine of the final 12 events and snagging
three wins. He finished as the runner-up to nemesis John Force and is
hoping for a run similar to last year.

"I know I've made (Force) really mad in the past on several
occasions and he's upset me too," said Bazemore. "But this year
we've become more friendly, and that makes it more fun. I think he's
killing me with kindness. I did better against him when I couldn't stand
the guy. He has a heart of gold and I'm glad I have gotten to know him
better. It's nice to beat him, even during qualifying, because he's the
best. You can't make a mistake against him. One day though, after one of
us retires, we'll go drink beers and go fishing."

Yates notched his fourth straight No. 1 Pro Stock qualifying position
and fifth of the year as he reached the finish line in a track record time
of 6.862 at 199.58 in his Splitfire/Peak Pontiac Grand Am.

Hines rode his Eagle One Suzuki to the top of the Pro Stock Motorcycle
order for the 41st time in his career when he set both ends of the track
record with a pass of 7.177 at 190.59.